If anyone out there is feeling like maybe you can’t make it today, know that you are not alone. Today is October 15th and our daily reflection prompt is “What gifts have I received since my recovery?”
Each of us here in the Alcoholic’s Anonymous community may be struggling in different ways with sobriety, but we come together every day to look around us and recognize the positive changes we’ve made since beginning our journey.
Reflecting on these successes gives us strength as we continue striving toward a better life free from addiction – understanding where are strengths lie helps us tackle what lies ahead.
Daily Reflections October 15
Gossip barbed with our anger, a polite form of murder by character assassination, has its satisfactions for us, too. Here we are not trying to help those we criticize; we are trying to proclaim our own righteousness.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 67
Gossip often lurks at the edges of our conversations, jumping in when we least expect it. It’s easy to get caught up in judging others and bolstering ourselves with little stories or critiques about those around us – all without realizing that a growing blemish is forming over our day.
Even if gossip has become something normal for you during coffee breaks, lunch meetings or evenings spent tired from work; let’s take a step back before letting these thoughts out into the world so their ugly presence won’t haunt us later on.
To remember that we are blessed with our own unique qualities – and those of others too – is a great exercise in awareness and mindfulness. When we honor this within ourselves, it helps us to develop greater acceptance and understanding of everyone we meet.
Today, take time to pause, reflect, and appreciate everything that makes you who you are. And carry with you the reminder that judgement does not belong to us – instead, let’s respect one another for our differences, as well as areas in which we share similarities.
With a heart full of gratitude for the gifts from the Divine Judge, may we be open to growth by striving to become better versions of ourselves every day!